At-Home Testing Has Become Popular, But May
Not Be Completely Accurate; Travel, Work-Related Needs Drive Test
Seekers To Get Professionally Administered Tests
SEATTLE , June 23,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As COVID-19 positivity rates
again increase across the U.S. and the State of Washington and the White House shifts
at-home tests funding to instead support vaccines and treatments,
national testing provider GS Labs continues to test hundreds of
patients daily who are seeking out professionally administered
COVID-19 tests. With at-home rapid tests widely available on store
shelves or by mail, what's driving these patients to come to a
private laboratory?
Four reasons, says Dr. Darin
Jackson, GS Labs medical director: The peace of mind that
comes from having a professional handle a medical test; to confirm
a negative COVID-19 rapid test for patients who display symptoms of
COVID-19; proof of positive COVID-19 status acceptable to
employers; and proof of negative COVID-19 status required for
travel to certain destinations.
"There's absolutely a sense of COVID-19 fatigue out there for a
lot of people – but not for everyone," says Jackson. "People with
high-risk family members or people who are at-risk themselves and
show symptoms of COVID continue to come to us because they want the
most accurate test results possible. There's a lot of research on
at-home testing now, and while the tests are accurate, they don't
quite measure up to professionally administered tests performed and
analyzed by a laboratory. Additionally, results from at-home
testing results are not being reported."
In accordance with CDC protocols, it is standard practice for
symptomatic patients who received a negative rapid antigen test to
next to be tested via a PCR test. This "confirmatory PCR"
identifies individuals who received a negative rapid antigen test
result but are in fact positive for COVID. Recent confirmatory PCR
results show that 15% of symptomatic GS Labs patients who received
a negative test result by the rapid antigen test are actually
positive. Together, this highlights the personal and public health
necessity for follow-up PCR testing when a rapid antigen is
negative.
Workplace and travel needs are also driving private tests, says
Jackson, who notes that in Washington, about 25 percent of the state over
age 5 is not fully vaccinated against COVID.
"In Washington, there's still about 1.9 million residents over
age 5 who haven't been fully vaccinated," says Jackson, noting that
net number will grow given recent FDA approval for vaccines for
ages 6 months and older. "We're giving tests to people whose
employers require a professional positive test in order for PTO
purposes or to reimburse the employees for various items. Also,
it's important to note that many countries – including Canada – still require proof of full
vaccination or a professionally administered negative COVID test
from travelers seeking to enter the country."
The U.S. State Department website keeps a worldwide list of
travel entrance requirements:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/COVID-19-Country-Specific-Information.html
In Washington, GS Labs' weekly
patient positivity rate began climbing in mid-April, from just over
2% to a sustained rate of more than 18% during the prior five
weeks. This mirrors results from GS Labs' nationwide lab network,
where the most recent seven-day rolling positivity rate is 20% –
approaching its highest-ever positivity rate of 23%, which was
recorded during the Omicron peak.
"Fortunately, we continue to have ample tests and appointments
for patients who need them," says Dr. Jackson. "Our commitment to
convenient and accessible testing remains unchanged, as does our
top priority: providing critical health information to individuals
across Washington state and
beyond."
Lab testing capacity and availability remains strong at GS Labs,
which operates five Washington-state testing sites: Bellevue, Federal
Way, Lynnwood, Seattle and Vancouver. GS Labs' state-of-the-art custom
technology platform is built to serve as many as 1,000 patients per
day at each location. GS Labs' digital platform allows patients to
book within 15 minutes of their proposed appointment and to receive
accurate rapid results in as little as 20 minutes after the
completion of a rapid antigen test. Appointments for all tests must
be made online prior to arrival
at https://gslabstesting.com/.
Two tests are fully covered by insurance in the event the
patient is experiencing symptoms or has had a recent exposure: a
rapid antigen test for $179 – which
typically returns results as quickly as 20 minutes – and a PCR test
for $229 that returns results in 2 to
5 days. Both tests have no out-of-pocket cost with accepted
insurance.
Additionally, GS Labs offers rapid PCR-NAAT and PCR-LAMP tests
for $299 each, with results typically
returned in about two hours. These tests, ideal for travel or
screening testing, are available with cash payment only. Travel
destinations may have different, specific testing requirements, so
customers are urged to research which test is required before
booking an appointment. A combination rapid antigen COVID and flu
test is available for $199, also with
cash payment only.
Since it began offering testing, GS Labs has tested more than
1.3 million patients across the country. To date, GS Labs has
identified more than 230,000 patients positive for COVID-19.
Headquartered in Omaha, GS Labs
entered the COVID-19 testing space as the pandemic initially swept
through Nebraska and the Midwest.
At the time, loved ones and friends of the company's partners could
not find COVID-19 tests anywhere after being exposed to the
coronavirus. From that initial location, the company has expanded
across the U.S.; its current footprint includes more than a dozen
locations in eight states.
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SOURCE GS Labs
